School solar power gets high marks

Solar power is definitely proving to be cool at schools across the U.S., with a growing number of schools finding solar power saves money"and provides educational opportunities to students.

By Robin Brunet

At schools across the U.S., solar power is definitely proving to be cool—and the number of schools installing solar power systems is clearly on the upswing, right across the country.

School buildings and other public infrastructure are prime candidates for solar power. They have large rooftops, consistent energy needs, and strict budgets. The reliable, low-cost energy created by solar power is good for the school’s budget, the community’s resilience, and the students’ education.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, after staff salaries, energy costs are the most expensive budget item for school districts. Installing solar can save school districts millions of dollars with little to no upfront costs for school districts.

Solar has proven to be a major source of savings for public schools across the U.S., allowing them to invest more in the thing that matters most: education.

A school district in Batesville, Arkansas made headlines a few years ago when it announced that it would raise teacher salaries by $15,000 a year because of electricity bill savings from its solar array. After seeing Batesville’s success, 30 other school districts in Arkansas adopted
solar.

As students and teachers head back to the classroom for the upcoming school year, thousands of school districts now rely on solar and storage technologies to keep their power on and their energy bills in check.

According to a 2024 report from non-profit group Generation 180, the amount of solar installed at K-12 schools in the U.S. has tripled since 2015. Over six million students attend a solar-powered school, and it is not hard to see why so many school administrators are turning to solar—right across the country.

With a ranking as a Top 10 State for solar capacity at K-12 schools, Pennsylvania is emerging as a national leader in clean energy for schools. According to a separate Generation180 report, Pennsylvania K-12 schools more than tripled the amount of solar installed from 14 to 45 megawatts (MW) in the last 10 years. During the last decade, the number of statewide K-12 schools with solar installations nearly doubled from 63 to 124. 

The Solar for Schools Act has created a new opportunity for Pennsylvania schools to access the financial and educational benefits of solar
energy. The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) has announced the recipients of 73 grants totaling $22.6 million from the Solar for Schools Grant Program to help fund new solar projects at public schools. The grant program is helping to fund an estimated 42 MW of new solar capacity, which would almost double the solar power generated by statewide K-12 schools.

Once installed, these solar installations are projected to save nearly $5 million in annual energy costs, freeing up critical resources to invest in essential programming and enhanced classroom learning.

In neighboring New Jersey, Madison Energy Infrastructure (MEI) recently announced the development of its 150th solar schools project. The milestone reflects Madison's commitment to delivering clean energy and savings with no upfront costs to K-12 schools, universities, and educational facilities across the country while providing access to STEM curriculum for students and teachers, says the company.

To celebrate this milestone, Madison hosted an educational event at Global Studies High School in Newark, one of 45 schools in the Newark School District where it is deploying onsite solar.

In remarks to students and faculty, MEI CEO Richard Walsh highlighted the transformative potential of clean energy for schools and communities. “If you look at any graph in this industry, career opportunities and growth are only climbing upward. We need smart and ambitious students to choose careers in clean energy and by having solar on your school, we hope you’re inspired to seize this opportunity and make a difference,” Walsh said.

Solar power has proven to be a major source of savings for public schools across the U.S., allowing them to invest more in the thing that matters most: education.

One of MEI’s recent projects, a rooftop solar array at North Stafford High School, is the largest school solar array in Virginia. The 1.8 MW array developed by MEI consists of 3,300 solar panels and will save Stafford County Public Schools an estimated $2.8 million in electric bills over the next 25 years.

“The installation of this rooftop solar array not only reduces our environmental footprint, but also serves as a powerful educational tool for our students,” said Chris R. Fulmer, Acting Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools. “Through this project, students are learning the real-world benefits of renewable energy and how it contributes to a sustainable future.”

Like so many solar projects associated with educational institutions, the North Stafford array provides students with continuous learning opportunities. Students engage with MEI’s Solar Empowered Schools curriculum, which integrates real-time data from the solar panels into energy and science lessons, providing insights into renewable energy and environmental stewardship. MEI’s interactive learning opportunities include solar-empowered school modules and VR educational tours of the rooftop.

VSUN solar panels were used for the North Stafford project, as was DCE Solar Eco-Top HD racking, and SolarEdge inverters.

One of the most satisfying aspects of the project is the attention it has received from outsiders, as MEI has received inquiries from other school districts because of North Stafford’s success. With the savings from the project, the administrators of North Stafford can reinvest their energy savings into other projects to benefit their facility, its students, or staff—or all three.

There are also school solar projects happening in neighboring West Virginia.

Nestled along the western border of West Virginia in a region with a long history in coal mining, Wayne County Public Schools (WCPS) is looking toward a clean-powered future.

After seeing the cost-saving benefits of improving energy efficiency with LED lighting and HVAC upgrades, WCPS Superintendent Todd Alexander looked to local solar developer Solar Holler to find even more cost savings through clean energy. The decision to pursue solar energy was driven by a clear objective: reduce operational costs while fostering local economic growth and engaging the community. 

WCPS is the first K-12 school district in the state to utilize a solar power purchase agreement (PPA), a third-party ownership model in which the solar developer funds, installs, and maintains the solar array on behalf of the customer. Through this agreement, Wayne County Schools agreed to purchase the electricity generated by the solar panels at a predetermined rate (10 to 20 percent lower than the rate they pay their utility) for 25 years. By financing the solar project through a PPA, WCPS avoided paying upfront capital costs and was able to install a solar project that is ten times larger than any other school district solar installation in the state.

	According to a 2024 report from non-profit group Generation180, the amount of solar power installed at K-12 schools in the U.S. has tripled since 2015. Over six million students attend a solar-powered school, and it is not hard to see why so many school administrators are turning to solar, right across the country—the savings can be very impressive.

Wayne County’s designation as an energy community with a history of coal mine closures and reliance on fossil fuel employment made the project eligible for an additional tax incentive that will help bring down the overall cost of the project for the solar developer.

With projected energy cost savings of $6.5 million over 25 years, the solar project will enable the district to invest the savings into addressing pressing facility and staffing needs. Superintendent Todd Alexander estimates the anticipated financial impact of the project is enough to fund the salaries of three additional teachers for the duration of their careers.

Alexander wanted the project to support a local business and support the local economy. With its headquarters in Wayne County, Solar
Holler was a natural choice as a project partner. The Solar Holler staff includes graduates of Wayne County Public Schools and parents with children currently enrolled in the school system. 

“Working with the school system of Wayne County is a dream come true for Solar Holler,” said Dan Conant, Solar Holler Founder and CEO. 

“Some of our staff graduated from Wayne County Schools or have kids who are students there now,” he added. “It’s the heart of coal country, where our state’s proud history of energy production is rooted. It’s literally the community that’s helped build our business, so we’re really grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on what solar can do for public institutions and education systems right here in Southern West Virginia,” said Conant.

Before the first solar panels were installed, Wayne County Public Schools partnered with Solar Holler to develop an apprenticeship program to prepare high school seniors for future careers in the growing local renewable energy industry. Through this program, students gain hands-on experience and practical skills in solar technology, electrical work, and project management. Under the supervision of Solar Holler’s unionized installation crews, WCPS students had the opportunity to participate in the installation of solar panels on their own school buildings.

This ambitious project marks a pivotal shift from Wayne County’s historical reliance on coal to a future driven by clean energy. Wayne County Public Schools is setting an example for other communities in the Appalachian region to follow by being the first school district in West Virginia to have all of its school buildings powered with onsite solar energy. The school district created a path to power its buildings with onsite renewable energy that generated significant financial benefits, supported local businesses, and invested in a future clean energy workforce.

There are solid incentives for solar, too, depending on the state. As of early 2025, the Coalfield Solar Fund, established to help K-12 schools in historic coal-producing regions of Virginia and West Virginia adopt on-site clean energy and workforce development programs, has completed solar power systems at one school district in each state.

Beyond financial and educational benefits, school solar projects can also play a role in strengthening energy resilience in a state. By producing their own solar power, schools in Texas are easing the strain on the state’s already stressed electrical grid, particularly during peak demand periods.

In Virginia, Lee County Schools received 451 kilowatts of solar generating capacity, while Calhoun County Schools in West Virginia received a 600-kilowatt solar system, both completed in December 2024. Together, the schools will save $4.1 million in energy costs over 35 years. 

Each school system received a $75,000 grant from the Coalfield Solar Fund as an incentive to obtain solar energy systems and start a workforce development program to prepare their students for careers in clean energy. The Coalfield Solar Fund is a partnership of global technology company Intuit, which provided funding for grants; the National Energy Educational Development Project, which provides energy literacy programs to K-12 students; and Secure Solar Futures, which develops, maintains, and operates the solar energy systems at each school. 

“For more than a century, coalfield communities in Virginia and West Virginia produced energy to power the American economy,” said Anthony Smith, CEO and Founder of Secure Solar Futures. “Today, the Coalfield Solar Fund is bringing innovation and jobs to help these same communities power the 21st century economy starting with solar power on schools and workforce development for students.” 

Got Electric of Ijamsville, MD, the construction partner of Secure Solar Futures, installed solar panels manufactured by Jinko Solar at both school systems. 

As part of a hands-on workforce development program, a high school student intern helped install solar power equipment at Calhoun County Schools. 

The Coalfield Solar Fund offers grants up to $150,000 to encourage K-12 schools and community colleges in historic coal-producing communities of Virginia and West Virginia to obtain on-campus solar power with no upfront cost, in addition to offering a workforce development program for local talent. 

And there are many other schools across the country installing solar power. Highland Schools in Illinois is expected to save over $2 million as a result of their solar investment and Sheridan Community Schools in Indiana is redirecting $1.3 million every year to teacher salaries as a result of their solar project.

In Idaho, the Solar 4R Schools program places new solar installations on school property and offers participating districts unique classroom kits tailored to each grade level. Students of all ages can learn about solar energy production and take part in the clean energy future that they will graduate into.

IDEA Public Schools, a charter school system, is taking a major step toward sustainability and cost savings with the installation of 1,771 solar panels across six campuses in Austin, Texas. Thanks to a partnership with local installer Axis Solar and support from Austin Energy and the city of Austin, this project is helping the nonprofit school network lower its operating expenses while reinforcing its commitment to environmental responsibility.

Spanning 625,000 square feet, the new rooftop solar systems generate 1.03 MW of clean energy, reducing IDEA’s electricity costs by 25 percent. The project was made possible in part with a $924,858 solar incentive from Austin Energy’s nonprofit program, which helps reduce financial barriers for organizations looking to invest in renewable energy.

“Partnering with IDEA Public Schools to bring solar to their campuses is exactly the kind of work that drives our mission,” said Graeme Walker, CEO of Axis Solar. “Not only does this project reduce costs and carbon footprints, but it also exposes thousands of students to the benefits of renewable energy in a real, tangible way.”

For IDEA Public Schools, the transition to solar isn’t just about cutting costs—it’s about setting an example for its 7,500 students enrolled across its Austin campuses.

“With solar panels powering our school, we’re harnessing the sun’s energy to create a brighter, more sustainable future—empowering students to be the change our world needs,” said Antonio Guevara,
Director of Energy Services for IDEA Public Schools.

Beyond financial and educational benefits, this project also plays a role in strengthening Texas’ energy resilience. By producing its own solar power, IDEA Public Schools is easing the strain on the state’s already stressed electrical grid, particularly during peak demand periods.

Q3 2025